Random thoughts from a Brit in the North West. Sometimes serious, sometimes not. Quite often curmudgeonly.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

If you are easily moved to tears, don’t read this beautifully written article on Iceland’s current plight. But, if you do and end up feeling a tad weepy, don’t then move on to the comments. You will end up in floods. And, if you’re British, with renewed shame for what Mr Brown did to them for his electoral advantage.

The postwoman brought me another registered letter from the Traffic Department this morning. We both thought it was my third speeding fine of the year and she kindly warned me of a notorious trap in Vigo. But, in fact, it was confirmation my payment of the fine had led to the file being closed. I wondered why they needed to send me this, especially in the form of an expensive registered letter, but I read this afternoon that only 25% of fines are paid. So I guess it was an expression of appreciation for my integrity. And possibly of surprise.

Zapping through the Spanish TV channels yesterday, I alighted on one in which a woman was imploring people whose neighbours are ‘a nightmare’ to get in touch with her. I decided mine didn’t quite qualify but suspect the lines will be quite busy.

I received this complaint by email this morning - My wife who is Spanish, learning English, with deep roots in the part of Spain where you currently reside has been on the end of one of your jokes. I do not find it funny. I have explained to her that probably it is your poor sense of humor, but if you cannot be honest about yourself please stop to consider that based on that there is no honesty in what you write. As the writer says he doesn’t want to enter into dialogue and hasn’t answered my query as to what joke this might be, I can only say I hope no one else has been upset by an anti-Galician joke I don’t recall making.

4 comments:

Seems like a wasted opportunity in not wanting to talk further about the complaint. It would be nice to know what is an insult to natives here in Galicia. Most of the immigrants that arrive from the UK are pensioners and don't have the opportunity to work along side the native speakers or visit their homes to experience the local customs. A lot of what Colin complains about is not directed as an insult or to suggest that the people here are ignorant. They are just observations and I have experienced similar and am adjusting my life to suit. There is an advert from a local supermarket which states "Vivamos como Gallegos" but how can we if we don't know how they live?

It's reintegracionista. Which means that the people who write it feel that Portuguese and Galego are the same language. Some reintegracionistas write in standard Portuguese and others write it with small changes - like writing 'reitegraçom' other than 'reintegração' and small things like that.